Stamp



Sept. 27, 1932. MELlND 1,879,387

STAMP I F'iJed May 16, 1950 Patented Sept. 27, 1932 LOUIS MELIND, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS STAMP Application filed Ma 16, 1930." Serial No.452,844.

This invention relates to stamping devices, and more particularly tomeans for identifying the stamping or printing elements of such devices.

My invention is particularly adapted for use with stamps, though it iscapable of being used for other purposes. One of the main objects of myinvention is to provide simple and efiicient means for identifyingstamps, such means being capable of application to a stamp withoutmaterial alteration in the construction thereof.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement over the stampdisclosed in my copending application Serial No. 441,- 907, filed April5, 1930.

Another of the objects of my invention is to provide a cover member forthe protection of the insert identifying the stamp and which is soformed as to bear tightly against the mounting block of the stamp so asto exclude dust, moisture and other foreign materials.

A further object is to provide improved means for securing a suitabletransparent cover member, comprising material such as celluloid, to thewooden mounting block of the stamp. This is accomplished by crimping orneedle point means consisting of forcing a heated needle point or othersuitable sharply pointed instrument through the celluloid into the wood.This secures perfect adhesion between the celluloid and the wood sincethe former fuses directly into the wood.

Other objects, such as the application of this particular identifyingmeans to a moulding stamp, and other advantages inherently associatedwith this new and novel means for identifying stamps will hereinafterappear in the following detailed description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a stamp having the identifyingmeans applied thereto, in accordance with my invention, this view beingpartly broken away and in section;

Figure 2 is a disassembled view of the stamp and the handle, showing theidentifying means appliedto the block of the stamp;

Figure 3 is an underneath view of the stamp looking at the printing facethereof;

Figure 4: is an end view, of the transparent cover member illustratingthe form thereof before it is applied to the block of the stamp;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the block illustrating theneedle point method of securing the cover member thereto;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 66of Figure 5, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of a stamp embodying another form ofcover member, the latter being secured to the stamp block by the needlepoint method; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged end elevational view of a molding type of stamphaving identifying means applied thereto in accordance with myinvention.

I have illustrated my invention, by way of example, as applied to astamp which comprises a mounting block 1, conveniently 75 formed ofwood, a bed 2 of sponge rubber, or other suitable material, set into theunder face of the block, and a stamping element 3 suitably secured tothe bed 2 and bearing suitable characters thereon for printing uponsurfaces of articles which it is desired to mark in a suitable manner.The block 1 is provided, at the sides thereof and near its upper face,with two longitudinally extending grooves 4, which may be formed in anysuitable manner. This block may readily be produced from a suitablelength of wood in the nature of a moulding, having one face cutout orgrooved to provide the recess for reception of bed 2, and provided withthe grooves 4:. A length of moulding thus formed can readily be cut intosuitable lengths to provide blocks similar to the block 1, thusfacilitating production of such blocks with a corresponding saving incost thereof.

Blockl is bored out from its upper face, centrally thereof, to provide asocket 5 adapted for reception of a reduced stud 6 at the lower end of asuitably shaped handle 7. The stud 6 has a friction fit in the socket 5for securing the block 1 to the handle. Stamps ofthis general type arewell known in the art and the manner of use thereof need not beillustrated nor described in detail.

It is frequently necessary to use stamps of this general character andwhich bear different legends, a plurality of such. stamps being commonlysupported in a rack or other suitable means. The general appearance ofthese stamps are quite similar and, in many cases, practicallyidentical, so that it is necessary to view carefully a selected stampbefore using the same, to be certain that this stamp bears the desiredmarking or legend. This necessity for carefully considering the stampsbefore using them, is conducive to error, as well as causing appreciableloss of time and inconvenience. It is desirable that the individualstamps be marked for indicating clearly the legends or markings thereof.

The means for identifying the individual stamps should readily bevisible when the stamp is in its normal position of use or is supportedin a rack or other means, and should be capable of being applied to thestamp at small cost and without necessitating any material changes13119115111.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, I provide an insert 8 whichconforms to the shape of the top or upper face of the block 1, which, inthe particular embodiment illustrated, is of'substantially rectangularshape and has rounded corners. This insert may conveniently be formed ofpaper, cardboard or other suitable material. The insert 8 is confinedbetween the upper face of the block 1 and a cover member 9. This covermember is preferably formed of a suitable transparent material, such astransparent celluloid.

Referring now to Figure 4:, the cover member 9 is provided, at each sidethereof, with a channel element 10 which is so shaped as to fit closelyabout the rounded upper corners of the block 1 with the inwardlyprojecting' flanges 11 fitting snugly into the grooves l. It is to benoted that portion 12 of the cover which lies between the channelelements, is curved downwardly. This is advantageous for the reason,that when applied to the block, the cover will bear tightly against theinsert to prevent displacement thereof when the handle is removed andwill exclude foreign materials from between the insert and the block andthe cover. The cover member is positioned upon the block 1 by being slidon to the same lengthwise thereof, with the channel elements 10 engagingabout the rounded edges of said block and the inwardly projectingflanges 11 extending into the grooves 4. The cover member is heldagainst endwise movement by reason of thefrictional contact of thecurved portion 12 thereof with the block 1, and by reason of thesnugness with which the inwardly extending flanges 11 of the coverengage within the grooves 4c of the block 1.

The insert 8 bears upon its upper face suitable markings or charactersfor identifying the stamp with which such insert is associated.Preferably, the identifying data upon the insert corresponds to theprinting element. 3 of the stamp. The identifying data upon the insert 8is readily visible through the transparent cover member 9 and the insertis so disposed that the arrangement of the data thereon corresponds tothe arrangement of the corresponding printing element of the stamp. Theinsert thus serves not only to identify the stamp but also to indicatewhether the stamp is being held properly for printing the desired legendupon an article in proper relation thereto. Marking the stamping devicein this manner is highly advantageous as rendering it possible toascertain at a glance the particular stamp desired and, also, todetermine whether the stamp is being held in proper position forprinting therewith upon an article in proper relation thereto.

The insert 8 and the cover member 9 are provided with aligned openingswhich'are disposed in register with each other and with socket 5 ofblock 1. The stud 6 passes through these openings of t- 1e insert andthe cover member, and serves to effectively secure them against movementrelative to each other and to the block 1. When the handle 7 is detachedfrom the block 1 for placing the stamp and handle in a kit which may beprovided for this purpose, the insert 8 is retained in position upon theblock 1 and in proper relation thereto by the cover member 9. Underordinary conditions, however, the handle 7 will remain in positionand'secured to block 1, as in Figure 1 of the drawing.

The cover 9 is preferably made of transparent material, as above stated.This is not essential, however, and the cover member may be made .of anysuitable material rendered transparent for a suificient portion of itsarea to enable the data upon the insert 8 to be viewed readily.Obviously, if the cover member be formed of opaque material. the desiredresults can be accomplished by removing or cutting away suitableportions of the cover member. Preferably the cover member and the insertare disposed upon the top or upper face of the block 1. This is notessential, however, and my invention comprehends, in its broaderaspects, any other suitable or preferred arrangement of the cover memberand the inse t. In its preferred and more specific form, my inventionutilizes the means for securing the handle to the block for alsosecuring the insert to the cover member against movement relative toeach other and tne block, though this is not essential in all instancessince the cover member may be relied upon for holding the insert is at il in Figures 5 and 6, and afiords a very simple and inexpensive methodof securing the celluloid to the wood without the use of anycementitious material, which would involve increased expense. When usingthis method for securing the cover to the block, the cover member may beof the form shown in Figure 4, or of any other suitable or preferredform. It is also apparent that when the cover member is secured to theblock at the points 14, flanges 11 and the grooves 4: may be omitted, asshown in Figure 7. In Figure 7 a cover member is shown which comprises aflat piece of suitable size and shape, which is secured over the insert8 and to the block by the needle point method.

Referring now to Figure 8, the identifying means is shown as applied toa moulding stamp 15 comprising the mounting block 15 having the stampingelement lfisecured to its unclerface. Secured to the top of the stamp isa cover 9, resembling the cover 9 of Figure 1, such a cover being heldin position by means of the inwardly projecting flanges 11 engaging intothe grooves i in the mounting block 15. It is to be noted, that in thistype of stamp, the insert 8 is not disposed upon the outer surface ofthe stamping block, but fits within a recess 17 which is of such depththat the outer face of the insert is flush with the outer surface of thestamp. This arrangement also provides a tightly fitting identifyingmeans, which effectively prevents infiltration of foreign materialsbetween the cover member and the insert, and consequently the insertbearing the identifying data will be kept clean and readily visiblethrough the transparent cover member. The identifying means shown Figure8 has been applied to the moulding stamp in angular relation to thehorizontal axis of the upper portion of the stamp, merely for theconvenience of the user. It is also obvious that this cover 9' may befastened or secured to the moulding stamp by hie needle point method andmeans described in connection with Figures 5, 6 and 7.

What I claim is:

1. In a stamping device of the character described, comprising amounting block and stamping means carried thereby, a cover member, saidmember and the block having cooperating means for holding the covermember against movement away from the block, comprising inwardlyextending projections on said cover member engaging into correspondingdepressions in said block, an insert disposed between the cover and theblock bearing identifying data visible through the cover member foridentifying the stamping means of the block, a handle, and means forreleasably securing the handle to the block, said securing means alsoacting to secure the cover member and the insert against slidingmovement relative to each other and to the block.

2. In a stamping device of the character described, comprising amountingblock and stamping means carried thereby, a cover member with turnedover edges, said blocl; having longitudinal grooves, and said turnedover edges of the cover snugly enga ing within the grooves of the blockand hol ing the cover member against movement away from the block, aninsert disposed between the cover and the block and bearing identifyingdata visible through the cover member for identifying the stamping meansof the block, a handle, and means for releasably securing the handle tothe block, said securing means also acting to secure the cover memberand the insert against sliding movement relative to each other and tothe block.

3.- In a stamping :device of the character described, comprising amounting block and stamping means carried thereby, a cover member withturned over edges, said block having longitudinally extending grooves,said turned over edges of the cover snugly engaging within the groovesof the block, said block having depressions, and said cover memberhaving indented portions engaging within said depressions and adheringto the walls of said depressions to hold the cover member againstmovement away from the block, and an insert disposed between the coverand the block bearing identifying data visible through the cover memberfor identifying the stamp with which such insert is associated.

4. In a stamping device of the'character described, comprising amounting block and stamping means carried thereby, a cover memberdisposed adjacent said mounting block, said block having depressions andsaid cover member having indented portions engagingwithin saiddepressions and adhering to the walls of said depressions to hold thecover member against movement away from the block, and an'insertdisposed between the cover and the block bearing identifying datavisible through the cover member for identifying the stamp with whichsuch insert is associated.

5. In a stamping device of the character described, comprising amounting block and stamping means carried thereby, said block havingflat faces and grooves, a curved coverv member positioned on one of saidflat faces with the convex side thereof adjacent said face, said coverhaving flanges projecting from the edges thereof, said flanges engagingwithin said grooves to secure said cover to said block, and an insertdisposed between the cover and the block and bearing identifying datavisible through said cover for identifying the stamping means of theblock, said insert being held in place under pressure of said curvedcover against the mounting block.

6. In a stamp of the character described, comprisinga mounting block andstamping means carried thereby, a cover member having turned in edges,said block being provided with grooves adapted to receive the edges ofthe cover member for retaining the cover and preventing movement thereofaway from the block, said block having a recess therein, and an insertmember disposed within said recess and bearing identifying data visiblethrough the cover for identifying the stamp with which such insert isassociated.

7. In a stamp of the charatcer described, comprising a mounting blockand stamping -L means carried thereby, an insert card, said block beingprovided with a recess receiving said insert card within said recess,and a cover secured to the block and extending over said insert card,said insert card bearing identifying data visible through the covermember for identifying the stamp with which such insert card isassociated.

8. In a stamp of the character described, comprising a mounting blockand stamping a means carried thereby, said mounting block being providedwith a recess and with longitudinally extending grooves, an insert cardwithin the recess, and a cover having turned in edges engaging withinthe grooves of the 569 block, said cover being fitted tightly over theblock and the outer face of the insert card, said insert card bearingidentifying data visible through said cover for identifying the stampwith which such insert card is associated.

) through the cover member, the initially convex surface of the covermember bearing upon the insert for holding it against displacement.

10. In combination, a -mounting block, a cover member secured to theblock and fitting over a surface thereof, said member being resilientand initially of concavo-conveX section, and an insert disposed betweenthe cover and the block and visible through the cover member, theinitially convex surface of the cover member bearing upon the insert forholding it against displacement.

11. In combination, a block having a generally rectangular section,longitudinally extending grooves in said block, a transparent covermember fitting over one face of said block and having downwardly andinwardly extending edge portions formed to provide channel elementsengageable in said grooves for holding said cover member againstmovement away from said block, said member being' resilient andinitially of concavo-convex section, and an insert confined between thecover member and the block and visible through said cover member, theinitially convex surface of the cover member bearing upon the insert forholding it against displacement.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 14th day of May,1930.

. LOUIS MELIND.

